Empowering children and those who serve them through the arts.
Art Integration Education delivers a comprehensive interdisciplinary Fine Arts program designed to help elementary grade students thrive emotionally and academically. Our focus on elementary grade curriculum promotes literacy, foundational building blocks in the arts, and its symbiotic benefit to STEAM disciplines. A quality interdisciplinary arts curriculum connects diverse themes during an instrumental period in a young scholar’s life, develops foundational skills that scaffold and transfer to academics and subjective wellbeing.
Mission
We employ the arts as a positive intervention in education to address multiple learning modalities and foster a love of learning that fuels creativity and innovation.
Vision
We provide exemplary interdisciplinary Fine Art lessons to elementary grade children that result in improved overall well-being and greater academic success by empowering students with the tools and knowledge necessary to excel in STEAM disciplines.
About Our Program
Art Integration Education’s curriculum is based on a vetted award-winning legacy program our Founder established while working as a Lead Teach the Teacher and Fine Arts Program Director with the Castro Valley Unified School District. Trials on the new and improved version were conducted with the Castro Valley Library in Castro Valley, CA., and again during Summer Art Camp with great success. Our curriculum meets California state standards, includes classical and contemporary mainstream artists, incorporates measurement outcomes, and accommodates multiple learning modalities. In addition, we provide leadership opportunities for fourth and fifth grade students with desktop publishing, journalism, editorials, interviewing skills, and photo journalism immersive curriculum.
Meet the Team
Virginia Valerio Lambert
Founder & Artistic Director
BA – Psychology
Artist (watercolor, pastels, textile, graphic arts, illustration, desktop publishing, mechanical & electrical drafting)
B.A. Psychology (concentration in Development and Cognitive)
Research Assistant in CoDe Lab (Cognitive Development) affiliated with Dr. Ny Vasil, CSUEB, implementing Phase 2 of a National Science Foundation (NSF) funded study on Bias in children and adults.
Virginia’s artwork has been exhibited with Adobe Art Gallery (Juried), National Science Foundation (NSF) funded research program associated with the Cognitive Development Lab at California State University, East Bay, Art Integration Education’s proprietary art lessons, and private homes.
Philanthropy work established an award winning legacy arts program within the Castro Valley Unified School District.
Megan G. Mayer
Advisor & Content Contributor
BA – Economics & Juris Doctor
Artist (literature), retired attorney, Founder of Carmel Cotillions and Network for Impact, LLC, and author of Gratitude Bump: Four Steps to Joy and Success and children’s book Appa and Momo Say Thank You.
Megan trains students and professionals in communication methods that improve productivity, collaboration, and talent retention. Her favorite clients are healthcare workers and working parents as well as UC and CSU programs. She works with multiple nonprofits to maximize skill-building opportunity for youth.
Tiona Brady
Advisor & Content Contributor
BA – Economics & CFRM
Artist (dance), and highly sought-after, solutions focused, global fund development executive who has demonstrated success designing and implementing scalable fundraising systems. Strategic visionary and recognized for crafting inventive solutions delivering tangible results with lasting impact.
Tiona is passionate about social change and is inspired by efforts focused on helping children and vulnerable populations, education, creating a kinder, more inclusive society and building sustainable healthy communities.
Sherry Johnson
Advisor & Content Contributor
BA – Biology, Multi-Subject Teaching Credential
Artist (watercolor). Sherry Johnson background is in integrated thematic instruction. As a retired classroom teacher, she previously coordinated the Castro Valley Unified School District (CVUSD) Watershed Festival in collaboration with Alameda County Clean Water Program and Castro Valley Sanitary District.
Additionally, Sherry worked as a CVUSD elementary Science Mentor, Palomares Creek Education Coordinator, and was involved in the CVUSD Gifted and Talented Program.
Madison Lambert
Advisor, Science Editor, & Content Contributor
BA – Biology (concentration in chemistry & neuroscience) & Master of Public Health (MPH) Department of Population and Family Health with a certificate in Health and Human Rights.
Artist (ceramics & music) and Art Integration Education alumni, Madison sees the impact this program has had in her own life and others’.
With over 10 years of experience in educating young people in sports, music, and the sciences, she has a deep appreciation for how early emphasis on and fostering of creativity supports young peoples’ academic and personal development.
Madison brings with her a background in program planning, implementation, and evaluation in non-profit programs designed to invest in and support young people.
Danisha Watson
Advisor & Content Contributor
BA – Psychology
Artist (textile), multidisciplinary professional pursuing graduate studies in law and public administration to deepen her ability to build equitable systems and make meaningful impact in communities.
Danisha approaches her work with clarity, empathy, and purpose, centering inclusion, justice, and community impact in everything she does.
Briana Becerra
Advisor & Content Contributor
BFA – Video & Animation
Artist (digital illustration and animation). As a creative and aspiring educator, Briana is deeply passionate about the arts and seeks to inspire and educate the youth through artistic means.
Briana is deeply concerned with issues of art accessibility, hoping that all communities are granted equal and accessible opportunities for creative expression.
Alexandra Batalla
Jr. Advisor & Content Contributor
Student & Artist
Artist (drawing & painting) and curriculum developer.
“I have many different hobbies, but one of my favorites is art. I love art because it is such a fun and creative way to express yourself.”
Alexandra believes art is important in education because it helps people understand and relate to our emotions.
Dr. YanYan Zhou
Advisor, Study Design & Analysis
MBA, Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.), & Statistics
Professor with California State University, East Bay, Department of Statistics and Data Science. Dr. Zhou is a Professor and Co-Chair.
Dr. Zhou’s interests are in Clinical trials, Sustainability, and Design of Experiments